Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), Hanshin Expressway Engineering Company
Limited (Hanshin Expressway), and KURABO INDUSTRIES LTD. (KURABO) have jointly
developed emergency repair sheet capable of preventing peeling of concrete in
aging structures. The newly developed product provides emergency repairs to
concrete cracking or other defective areas, discovered when inspecting viaducts,
tunnels, etc., and is used to increase safety until full scale repairs can be
conducted.

[Background]

Japan is now facing the reality that much of the current infrastructure,
such as the roads and railways constructed during the period of high economic
growth, is now aging. Instances of accidents involving concrete peeling and
falling have become a social issue. As a countermeasure, regular inspections
of concrete structures, and in cases of cracking or other defects, the concrete
in those and surrounding areas has been removed, and repairs made to prevent
further peeling. As the risk of peeling remains throughout the period from inspection
to repair works, there has been a demand for emergency measures to reduce concrete
peeling.

The partners have risen to the challenge and developed sticky-back emergency
repair sheet that integrates special adhesives with a reinforced fiber net.

[Product Features]

The newly developed product makes it possible to immediately perform emergency
repairs on concrete cracks and other defective areas discovered when inspecting
viaducts and tunnels. The new product is a sticky-back sheet with Crenette,
the high strength polyethylene fiber developed by Kurabo, laminated on the adhesive
layer as developed by DNP.

Major features

It is possible to perform repairs to defective areas in a simple manner,
merely by stripping away the external polyester (PET) film, and adhering
it to the concrete, following the uniform coating of the defective concrete
surface with a primer to smooth it.

Curing of the adhesive agent can be performed via irradiation with ultraviolet
rays found in sunlight or fluorescent light.

Current repair works (employing polymer cement mortar etc.,) require
two days per square meter. By way of comparison, similar tasks involving
the newly developed product take about 30 minutes only.

It is also possible to reduce risks in the period between the discovery
of the defective area and the implementation of permanent repair works.

In load (punching) tests to assess prevention performance anticipating
concrete peeling, the newly developed product achieved approximately 2.5kN,
in excess of the 1.5kN minimum required value for repairs, and comprising
the basic performance qualities necessary as an emergency repair material.

The repair sheet contains only a low organic solvent content in its
materials including adhesive that can be the cause of environmental pollution,
and is an eco-friendly product with no perceivable odor emitting.

[Looking Ahead]

DNP, Hanshin Expressway, and KURABO will perform field tests, and use the
assessments and knowledge obtained there for marketing activities, aiming to
commercialize the newly developed product in FY 2016.

* Product prices, specification and service contents mentioned in this news
release are current as of the date of publication. They may be changed at any
time without notice.